Fabulous Friday: Grace Slick

I started the current Fabulous Friday series on October 10th, guided by the book Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers by Meredith Ochs. I have precious little familiarity with these women so I pulled in my brother Howard as a collaborator. We've all been honored to hear his thoughts on these musicians over the last couple of months.

Well Howard has looked at the list and feels like he just has one more left in him - - today's artist, Grace Slick. Sure, he knows many of the other people on the list but feels like he has (to use his words) "run out of truly inspired options." He asks that this be his swan song.

I'll continue for a few more weeks because I have things to say about Marianne Faithfull, Carole King, The Go-Go, definitely Annie Lennox, and MOST definitely Ann and Nancy Wilson. I might pull in other collaborators for some other people on the list. Let me know if you're interested! Plus Howard might write about a few women who are NOT on the list, that would be a treat.

Here's Howard. Thanks a million, my brother, for everything!

Being a San Franciscan, I cannot help to be proud of our rich political and musical history. Both of these things continue to inspire me in my life, Justice and Rock and Roll. The psychedelic movement here still reverberates and thrives, and we are indebted to the architects who built this great foundation that has served us well all of these years.

I mentioned last week about including Janis’ house on my little tours when friends visit. Well, there are many stops on that tour; landmarks of Jimi Hendrix’ and Red House Painters’ songs, Brautigan haunts, Ginsberg corners. My favorite, though, is a grand house that still holds 1000s of stories from when Jefferson Airplane called it their home, 2400 Fulton.

Grace Slick, our Queen, led the acid eating ruffians with her soaring, arrhythmic voice. Carving each word out through her haze and that constant, tiny grin. From Airplane to Starship, she endured it all and persevered. She eventually, like all good rockers do, quit and became a painter. I saw her years ago across the room at an event and my heart just dropped.

Only one clip is needed to exemplify the power of what I am talking about, White Rabbit at Woodstock. I cannot think of a more epoch defining, artful 3 minutes ever.